Safety locking device for pump type magazine firearms



Sept. 28; 1965 B. E. BARR 3,208,177

SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR PUMP TYPE MAGAZINE FIREARMS Filed 001;. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 28, 1965 B. E. BARR 3,208,177

' SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR PUMP TYPE MAGAZINE FIREARMS Filed Oct. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

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so i 6 39 22 38 113i 29 46 53 I l I 38 I; 29 46 5. ll; 4 52 United States Patent 3,208,177 SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR PUMP TYPE MAGAZINE FIREARMS Bruce E. Barr, 496 Monreith St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed Oct. 19, 1964, Ser'. No. 404,659 14 Claims. (Cl. 42-70) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices for rifles, shotguns or the like.

Modern multi-shot rifles and shotguns are normally operated with what is known as a pump type magazine. This comprises a magazine secured below the barrel of the gun with a forearm sleeve slidably mounted upon the magazine. The gun is normally fired with the forearm sleeve in the foremost position and when it is desired to reload the gun, the sleeve is moved rearwardly to the maximum degree permitted and then forwardly thus ejecting the spent shell and loading a new shell into the breech of the gun.

Such guns are normally provided with a conventional safety catch which is situated adjacent the trigger and, when in the safe position, prevents the trigger from being actuated.

However, many accidents have occurred due to rifles or shotguns being discharged accidentally and many of these accidents are due to the fact that the safety catch has not been actuated or, that the safety catch has inadvertently been moved to the firing position.

This is a relatively common occurrence particularly when the rifle or shotgun is being used in heavy bush and when the wearer is using bulky clothing as the conventional safety lever is easily moved from one position to the other by brushing against other objects.

I have overcome this disadvantage by providing a further safety device which operates in conjunction with the forearm sleeve of the automatic magazine loader.

The gun or rifle cannot be fired unless the forearm sleeve is in the foremost position because the shell is not fully entered into the breech of the gun until the forearm sleeve is in the foremost position.

I have provided a locking device which engages slots formed in the sleeve and magazine walls, said slots being aligned when the forearm sleeve is spaced from the foremost position.

Inasmuch as the hand of the operator supports the gun or rifle adjacent the front end of the forearm sleeve, the safety device is easily manipulated but by the same token it is a distinct movement that is required in order to disengage the safety device and then move the forearm sleeve to the foremost position in order to place the firearm in a firing condition.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to provide a device of the character herewithin described which provides a separate safety catch mechanism distinct from the conventional safety catch normally provided on firearms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is easily installed upon the forearm sleeve of a pump type rifle or shotgun and which does not interfere with the normal operation of the loading mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes means to prevent operation of the safety device until the forearm sleeve is in the position where the lug of the device can engage and lock the forearm sleeve to the magazine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the lug of the locking device cannot scrape along the surface of the magazine inasmuch as it cannot be actuated until the sleeve is in the desired position.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary isometric View of my device shown in conjunction with a portion of the forearm sleeve and magazine tube of a rifle, the housing being deleted for clarity, the device being in the unlocked or firing position.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the device in the locked or safety position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward end of a magazine and forearm tube showing my device with the housing in position, the position of the device being similar to that in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the device in the locked or safety position, similar to that illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation, reduced in scale to the remainder of the drawings, showing the location of my device in conjunction with the magazine and rifle barrel.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG- URE 6 but showing the device in the locked or safety position.

FIGURE 9 is a view substantially along the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view substantially along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 but showing the device partially actuated and ready for engagement in the safety position.

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURES 10 and 11 but showing the device in the locked or safety position and taken substantially along the line 12-12 of FIG- URE 9.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, reference should first be made to FIGURE 5 in which 10 illustrates the forward end of a conventional rifle barrel. Situated below the rifle barrel is a magazine tube 12 secured adjacent the forward end 13 thereof by means of a bracket 14.

Reciprocal upon the magazine is the forearm sleeve 15 and the reciprocation of this forearm sleeve upon the magazine ejects the spent cartridge and reloads the new one.

My device collectively designated 16 is secured upon the upper forward end 17 of the forearm sleeve as clearly shown.

In detail, the device comprises a housing 18 the upper surface 19 of which is depressed to permit clearance between the device and the underside of the barrel 10.

A transverse slot 20 is formed through the wall of the magazine tube 12 and a further transverse slot 21 is formed through the wall of the forearm sleeve 15 and these slots are positioned so that when the forearm sleeve & is in the position shown in FIGURE 4, the slots and 21 coincide thus enabling my device to be actuated.

A locking lug shaft 22 is mounted transversely within the housing for limited endwise movement, and a locking lug 23 is secured to the underside of the shaft and depends downwardly therefrom, said lug being adjacent the end 24 of the shaft 22.

The other end 25 of the shaft is enlarged as shown thus forming a button and this button extends beyond the side plates 26 of the housing as clearly shown in the drawings.

A resilient spring 27 surrounds the shaft 22 and reacts between the enlarged end 25 and the housing, normally biassing the shaft 22 in the direction of arrow 28 or in a direction in which the locking lugs 23 will enter the slots 20 and 21 if those slots are in alignment.

Means are provided to prevent movement of the shaft 22 in the direction of arrow 28 unless the slots are in alignment, said means taking the form of a setting shaft 29 situated within the housing and longitudinally thereof and being capable of limited endwise movement within the housing. This shaft is also provided with an enlarged end 30 forming a button, said button extending beyond the front side 31 of the housing and upon the opposite side of the housing to the side 26.

This shaft is also provided with a resilient spring 32 reacting between the other end 33 of the shaft and the housing 18, this spring normally biassing this shaft in the direction of arrow 34 so that the button end 30 of the setting shaft 29 normally extends beyond the housing as shown.

The setting shaft 29 is provided with a transversely milled slot 35, said slot being closed ended and extending clear through the shaft 29. The forward end of the slot 35 is enlarged to a cylindrical drilling 36 and this drilling is of suflicient diameter to permit the engagement therewith of the end 24 of the locking shaft 22.

The locking shaft 22 is provided with a flatted area 37 intermediate the ends thereof and upon either side thereof, only one side being visible in the drawings. These flatted areas reduce the dimension of the locking shaft at this point so that the setting shaft 36 may be moved endwise, the flatted portion 37 engaging the milled slot 35. However, endwise movement of the setting shaft 29 can only occur when the locking shaft is in the position shown in FIG. 1, this position being when the locking lug 23 is disengaged from the slots 20 and 21.

In other words the spring 32 urges the setting shaft 29 in the direction of arrow 34 when the shaft 22 is in the innermost position and the spring 27 is compressed.

When shaft 29 is moved in the direction opposite to arrow 34, spring 27 moves shaft 22 in the direction of arrow 28 thus enabling the locking lug 23 to engage the slots 20 and 21 and to lock the forearm sleeve upon the magazine 12.

It is however desirable to prevent the device from being actuated until the slots are in alignment otherwise the lug 23 may scrape the magazine 12 and damage same.

I therefore provide means to prevent movement of the shaft 29 until the slots are in alignment, said means taking the form of an angulated locking lever 38 pivotally secured by the end 39 thereof to the housing and extending under the shaft 29.

This lever includes a down turned end 40 and a notch engaging portion 41 formed at the junction of the end 40 and the main portion 42.

An angulated notch 43 is formed within the underside of the shaft 29 adjacent the end 33 thereof and a spring 44 surrounds the downturned end 40 and reacts between the lever and the surface of the forearm tube 15 normally maintaining the lever in the upper most position with the portion 41 engaging the notch 43 as shown in FIGURE 1.

An aperture 44 is formed within the forearm tube wall and the extremity 45 of the end 40 normally registers within this aperture.

A further aperture 46 is formed through the wall of the magazine 12 and this aperture is positioned so that it 4 is in alignment with the aperture 44 when the slot 20 is in alignment with the slot 21.

The engagement of the portion 41 of the lever with the notch 43 is in the form of a camming action so that when the apertures 44 and 46 are in alignment, the setting shaft 29 can be moved in the direction opposite to arrow 34 thus engaging the end 45 within the aperture 46. If the apertures are not in alignment, the end 45 bears against the wall of the magazine 12 and the lever 38 cannot be moved due to the fact that the portion 41 cannot become disengaged from the notch 43.

In operation, reference to FIGURES 1, and 3, in particular, will show the device in the firing position with the forearm sleeve 15 in the foremost postion with relation to the magazine 12.

After the rifle or gun has been fired, the forearm sleeve is moved rearwardly to the limit of its travel and then moved forwardly and is ready for the engagement of the safety device.

As it is moved forwardly, the button end 30 is engaged by the forefinger of the operator and gentle pressure is placed thereon in a direction opposite to arrow 34.

However, the shaft 29 cannot move at this point due to the fact that the angulated lever 38 cannot move downwardly out of engagement from the notch 43.

As soon as aperture 44 comes into alignment with aperture 46 the lever 38 can move downwardly thus permitting the shaft 29 to be moved in a direct opposite to arrow 34 thereby compressing spring 32.

This moves the flatted portion 37 of the shaft 22 out of the slot 35 and into the drilling 36 thus permitting spring 27 to move shaft 22 in the direction of arrow 28 and to engage the locking lug 23 within the slot 20 thus locking the forearm sleeve to the magazine to the position shown in FIGURES 2 and 4.

The gun or rifle is then locked and cannot be fired irrespective of the position of the conventional safety catch. It should also be noted at this point that spring 44 is compressed by the lever 38.

When it is desired to place the gun or rifle in the firing position, the thumb of the operator is engaged upon the button end 25 of the shaft 22 and this shaft is moved in a direction opposite to arrow 28 thus compressing spring 27. This movement moves the flatted portion into alignment with the slot 35 thus permitting spring 32 to extend and move shaft 29 in the direction of arrow 34 so that the flatted portion engages the slot 35 and prevents outward movement of the shaft 22. At this time, of course, the locking lug 23 is disengaged from the slot 20 and as the shaft 29 moves in the direction of arrow 3 4, spring 44' raises the angulated lever 38 out of engagement with the aperture 40 so that the portion 41 of this lever engages the notch 43. The forearm sleeve 15 is now free and can be moved to the foremost position upon the magazine as shown in FIGURE 3 thus completing the loading of the shell within the breech and placing the gun or rifle in the firing position.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A safety locking device for pump type magazine firearms which include a barrel, a magazine secured below said barrel, and a sliding forearm sleeve around said magazine reciprocal on said magazine for loading shells into the breech of said firearm; said locking device comprising in combination a housing secured to said forearm sleeve, said magazine and said forearm sleeve being transversely slotted through the walls thereof, said slots aligning when said forearm sleeve is spaced from the foremost breech loading position, a locking lug shaft situated transversely in said housing for limited endwise movement therein, a locking lug adjacent one end of said shaft, said shaft being movable from a slot engaging position to a slot disengaging position and vice versa, said lug engaging said slots when said slots are aligned as foresaid, and means mounted in said housing for moving said shaft endwise whereby said locking lug enters said slots.

2. The device according to claim 1 which includes means in said housing cooperating with said locking lug shaft to prevent endwise movement of said shaft and said lug towards the slot engaging position until said slots are in alignment.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said means mounted in said housing for moving said shaft endwise includes said locking lug shaft being spring loaded whereby said shaft is normally biased towards the slot engaging position.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which said means mounted in said housing cooperating with said locking lug shaft to prevent endwise movement of said shaft includes a longitudinally mounted slotted setting shaft in said housing, said setting shaft being movable endwise within said housing, one end of said locking lug shaft entering the slot in said setting shaft, said one end of said locking lug shaft cooperating with the walls of said slot to prevent movement of said locking lug shaft when said setting shaft is in the foremost position and permitting movement of said locking lug shaft when said setting shaft is in the rearward position.

5. The device according to claim 4 which includes means in said housing actuated by the movement of said setting shaft to prevent movement of said setting shaft until said slots in said forearm sleeve and said magazine are in alignment.

6. The device according to claim 5 in which said means in said housing actuated by the movement of said setting shaft comprise an angulated locking lever pivotally secured by one end thereof to said housing, said forearm sleeve and said magazine being apertured, said apertures aligning when said slots are aligned, the other end of said locking lever engaging said apertures, a notch on the underside of said setting shaft adjacent one end thereof, a notch engaging portion on said locking lever, said notch engaging portion engaging said notch when said other end of said lever is disengaged from said apertures, said locking lever being spring biased in a direction opposite to the aperture engaging position, the movement of said setting shaft urging said other end of said locking lever into engagement with said apertures.

7. The device according to claim 6 in which said setting shaft is spring loaded and normally biased towards the position wherein said notch engaging portion of said locking lever engages said notch on said setting shaft.

8. The device according to claim 1 in which the other end of said locking lug shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said shaft for moving said shaft endwise against spring pressure.

9. The device according to claim 2 in which the other end of said locking lug shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said shaft for moving said shaft endwise against spring pressure.

10. The device according to claim 3 in which the other end of said locking lug shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said shaft for moving said shaft endwise against spring pressure.

11. The device according to claim 4 in which the other end of said setting shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said setting shaft for moving said setting shaft endwise against spring pressure.

12. The device according to claim 5 in which the other end of said setting shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said setting shaft for moving said setting shaft endwise against spring pressure.

13. The device according to claim 6 in which the other end of said setting shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said setting shaft for moving said setting shaft endwise against spring pressure.

14. The device according to claim 7 in which the other end of said setting shaft extends beyond said housing, and a finger manipulating button formed on said other end of said setting shaft for moving said setting shaft endwise against spring pressure.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SAFETY LOCKING DEVICE FOR PUMP TYPE MAGAZINE FIREARMS WHICH INCLUDE A BARREL, A MAGAZINE SECURED BELOW SAID BARREL, AND SLIDING FOREARMS SLEEVE AROUND SAID MAGAZINE RECIPROCAL ON SAID MAGAZINE FOR LOADING SHELLS INTO THE BREECH OF SAID FIREARM; SAID LOCKING DEVICE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A HOUSING SECURED TO SAID FOREARM SLEEVE, SAID MAGAZINE AND SAID FOREAR SLEEVE BEING TRANSVERSELY SLOTTED THROUGH THE WALLS THEREOF, SAID SLOTS ALIGNING WHEN SAID FOREARM SLEEVE IS SPACED FROM THE FOREMOST BREECH LOADING POSITION, A LOCKING LUG SHAFT SITUATED TRANSVERSELY IN SAID HOUSING FOR LIMITED ENDWISE MOVEMENT THEREIN, A LOCKING LUG ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID SHAFT, SAID SHAFT BEING MOVABLE FROM A SLOT ENGAGING POSITION TO A SLOT DISENGAGING POSITION AND VICE VERSA, SAID LUG ENGAGING SAID SLOTS WHEN SAID SLOTS ARE ALIGNED AS FORESAID, AND MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVING SAID SHAFT ENDWISE WHEREBY SAID LOCKING LUG ENTERS SAID SLOTS. 